SAN JOSE, Calif. – San Jose State baseball improved to 6-2 on the season with a 7-3 win over Saint Mary's Wednesday in a nonconference game at Municipal Stadium.
The Spartans used three runs in the sixth inning and two more in the seventh to break a 2-2 tie. Aaron Pleschner was one of three Spartans that finished with multiple hits on the afternoon. The senior had a game-high three hits in five at-bats with a double, RBI and scored a run.
Trailing 1-0 in the third inning, freshman Brandon Peterson, who was the leadoff batter for the first time of his career, laced a RBI triple to right field. The next man up was Pleschner, who plated Peterson with a double down the right field line for a 2-1 lead.
The Gaels tied the game in the fourth on a two-out RBI single. Kellen Strahm gave the Spartans the lead in the sixth as he scooted home on an error by the left fielder. James Shimashita tallied his team-leading 11th RBI on the young season on a first-pitch single that plated Blake Berry, and he scored himself on the backend of a double steal to bring the score to 5-2.
SJSU scored two more in the seventh on a sacrifice fly by Strahm and RBI single by Troy Viola. Saint Mary's got one back in the ninth, but that was all as the Spartans closed the door on a potential comeback.
The Spartans finished with 12 hits to the Gaels' seven. Peterson, Shimashita and Viola each finished with two hits.
SJSU reliever Mitchell Miller (1-0) was the pitcher of record after 2.0 innings of work and surrendering just one hit. Jonathan Clark got the start on the bump but was chased out of the game after two innings. Nicholas Morales, Josh Zanger and Anders Davidson all contributed to the relief effort.
Gaels' reliever Dalton Ponce (0-1), who surrendered the three go ahead runs in the sixth, was charged with the loss.
SJSU now turns their attention to conference play, where they will begin the journey in Albuquerque, N.M. against New Mexico Friday through Sunday.